1 Thessalonians
Date and Occasion
Paul probably wrote 1 Thessalonians by AD 50, roughly 20 years after Jesus’ execution and resurrection. This may thus be the earliest of Paul’s letters (although some scholars date 2 Thessalonians or Galatians earlier). indicates that adversaries charged Paul with illegally announcing Jesus as a royal rival to Caesar (; cf. “kingdom” in ; ). Paul was forced to flee Thessalonica and dared not return until the rulings against him expired (when the politarchs retired). Meanwhile, those who stirred the trouble remained, and the new believers continued to face suffering (; ; ). Some had died (), although the cause is not stated. Although many of the believers are Gentiles (), Paul in this early letter draws on Biblical and ancient Jewish end-time imagery, much of it directly from Jesus.
Ancient letters could focus on comfort, thanksgiving, or exhortation; 1 Thessalonians includes elements of all of these. On Thessalonica, see note on ; on religion in Thessalonica, see note on . ◆
Quick Glance
The apostle Paul
Audience:
The largely Gentile church in Thessalonica, founded by Paul
Date:
Close to AD 50, perhaps about AD 51
Theme:
Unable to physically be with the new believers, Paul encourages their faith and strengthens their hope in view of Christ’s imminent return.